Eight games into Spring Training… and James Outman is seizing the day. Of course, there are three weeks left, but if it ended today, James Outman would be in the squad. All he has done is hit the ball, run the bases and play excellent defense. In other words, he has done EVERYTHING! James Outman was a dark horse to make the team, but so far, he is forcing his way to be on the roster… if he keeps it up. I hope he makes it because if he does, it solves many problems. He is also a great guy, so you have to root for him. I have no idea if he can hit LHP consistently, but even if he only plays against RHP, he will get 400-450 ABs. I hope he keeps it up, and he has exceeded my expectations… so far.
Jason Heyward continues with his solid, if not spectacular hitting. Of course, it is early, but he is on his way to earning a spot, as he hit his second HR yesterday. He joined the .400 club along with Outman, Ward, Zimmer, Feduccia, and Rojas, as players batting at least .400. Andy Pages is right there as well, hitting. 375. Of course, this is a very small sampling, but it’s fun to watch the process.
Muncy, Betts, Taylor, and JDM have yet to get untracked, but I am not worried about them… they know what they are doing, and Spring Training means very little for the vets. Bradley Zimmer is hitting .429 in 7 at-bats but has three hits and four strikeouts. He does not impress many people. That’s the way Outman was last season. He either struck out or got a hit. That is not sustainable. This season, Outman has two strikeouts in 11 at-bats. That… is sustainable. Let’s see if he can keep it up because if he can, they have something.
It’s possible that we will see three LH hitters in the outfield against tough RHP, with Betts moving to 2B and Peralta in LF, with Outman and Heyward in CF and RF. I assumed that Heyward would play RF, but he surprised me in Center. I still see Outman as a better defensive Centerfielder, but it’s much closer than I thought. Heyward is in great physical shape.
CT3 and David Peralta are guys who take a while to get their respective swings down… and he is not close, as yet. However, he needs to get there with a quickness. If Miguel Rojas is healthy, I do not see Chris Taylor playing SS a lot. I think most of his PT will come in LF and CF.
Injury News
That brings us to Migual Vargas. It was pointed out that he has failed to get a hit this Spring Training. In fact, he’s struck out four times… WITHOUT EVER SWINGING THE BAT! That will allegedly change on March 8th as the Dodgers deem his broken pinky will be sufficiently healed by then. He has been taking BP and is allegedly hitting some moon shots.
Victor Gonzalez is allegedly healthy, but they are not letting him pitch in games as yet. Daniel Hudson should be ready in early April. The Dodgers have four pitchers who could be healthy by September… but don’t hold your breath:
- Striker Buehler
- Blake Treinen
- J.P. Feyereisen
- Alex Reyes
Today, at 12:05 PDT/3:05 EDT it is Giolito and Julio, down by the Schoolyard!
Discussion (10)
Disagree, not disagreeable
If this Outman kid is a fourth or fifth outfielder then I want to know who the first three or four are!
Bobby – did you catch the game earlier?
Last year the Dodgers had the black hole gang of Belli, Muncy, and Taylor and still won 111. I think Muncy and Taylor improve and Outman/Heyward give way more offense than Belli so I think the lineup will be fine with Rojas. JDM needs to produce tho! I think his bat is crucial. And fangraphs projects us with 87 wins before the Lux injury! What? Even after Lux I have us 90 low and 95 high end in 23.
I am not sure the Dodgers have enough offense to keep Rojas at short all year. If Lux won’t be ready to play short by June of 2024 if at all, there is a good chance the Dodgers will make a trade sometime between now and the trade deadline. My hope is such a trade doesn’t repeat the disastrous Deshields trade that cost the Dodgers Martinez, such as Stone.
If Muncy and Martinez bounce back and Outman does better than Bellinger did last year the Dodgers might be able to keep Rojas at short. But that M & M duo sure isn’t close to the Yankees old M & M duo. I thought I would mention that for no apparent reason.
3:05 PM ET vs White Sox
Lucas Giolito R
0-0 .00 ERA
Julio Urias L
0-0 .00 ERA
Confirmed Lineup
2B Mookie Betts R
1B F. Freeman L
SS Chris Taylor R
3B Max Muncy L
DH J. Martinez R
LF D. Peralta L
C A. Barnes R
CF James Outman L
RF B. Zimmer L
Partly-cloudy-day
0% Rain
64° Wind 6 mph Out
I missed the memo that Vargas isn’t swinging the bat. I haven’t been doing my homework nor watching much. My fault.
From The Athletic:
“What are your thoughts on Gavin Lux making a full recovery for opening day 2024? – John D.
As Lux was running from second to third his right knee hyperextended and bowed outward. An MRI confirmed the worst – a torn ACL with additional damage. This likely means there is LCL damage based on the mechanism of injury. The ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) is the primary stabilizer of the knee, connecting the femur to the tibia. The LCL (lateral collateral ligament) runs along the outside of the knee, providing stability on side-to-side movements.
If this was an isolated ACL tear 9-12 months would be a realistic timeline to return. Because Lux is also dealing with additional damage his recovery is likely to bleed into the 2024 season. He could be available by Opening Day but won’t be 100%.
Last season Ronald Acuña Jr. returned about 10 months after tearing his ACL. At times he looked like his old self, but there were stretches where that knee was clearly bothering him. Acuña should now be back to normal as he approaches the two year mark. Expect Lux to have a longer timeline than Acuña due to the LCL damage.
The first week of games is exciting but it doesn’t tell me much. Still a lot of pitchers with high numbers on their backs. They will be sent to the minor league camps before too long. The last week of games will be more informative.
One week random observations:
1. Outman seems poised to grab the starting CF job.
2. Peralta looks lost (I hope you’re correct MT and he finds his swing).
3. Pepiot is destined for AAA but he will get meaningful starts in LA this year.
4. Where’s Bobby Miller?
5. Knack is just another depth piece/minor league arm. Don’t seem him with any 2023 major league playing time but could be used in a trade package.
6. Heyward will make the team.
7. Vargas looks the part of being a major leaguer, lets just confirm that starting March 8 when he can start hitting.
8. Where’s Almonte and V-Gon?
9. So far Miller and Nelson…..meh (although Nelson has been inactive for quite sometime and his only ST appearance was on a wet mound–lets see what both offer as we progress through ST).
10. I liked the way Grove pounded the strike zone. Like Pepiot he will get big league starts this year, but will start the season at OKC.
11. Syndergaard might have to adjust and under Prior’s tutelage learn how to pitch and not just throw gas (his 98-100 MPH FB most likely is not returning).
12. I don’t see any of the non-roster ST relief pitcher invitees making the opening day roster, but if they agree to a minor league deal some will get playing time this year in LA (Suero, Reed and Andriese might see LA this year).
13. Duggar and Zimmer are the same player and both look ho hum to me.
14. I can see Luke Williams being the first utility player called up when the inevitable injury happens. I like his offensive pop and versatility defensively.
15. Who gets called up to catch if Will Smith or Barnes get injured? Do they start the clock on Cartaya or will it be Mazeike, Freitas or Feduccia?
16. Love the pitch clock and the shift ban.
17. AF has to find a way to keep Urias. Seeing JT, Seager, Bellinger no longer wearing Dodger Blue is sad, but it is a business and I get it.
18. JDM has to have a monster year or fans will excoriate AF for signing him and letting JT walk.
19. AF looks like a savant with the acquisition of Rojas now that Lux is lost for the season.
20. As one of the icon ML franchises I would like to see the Dodgers have a similar uniform policy as the Yankees. I don’t mind the long hair and Mr. T starter kits around the neck, but lose the earrings. NBA doesn’t allow it and nor should MLB.
Outman has looked great. I am impressed with how he has repeated his swing. Thompson finally got a hold of one yesterday. His timing has seemed off. But that is to be expected early in spring when the pitchers are way ahead of the hitters. Knack has some heat for sure. But it also is very straight. He is going to need to work on a pitch that moves. Kershaw had a good workout in the pen according to the announcers. No one knows when he is making his spring debut. Pepiot looked good. The Royals did tattoo a couple of his pitches though. I was impressed with how hard their hitters were hitting the ball. The acoustics in that ballpark made everything sound like it was crushed.